Mainebiz

V O L . X X I N O. I X M AY 4 , 2 0 1 5 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E www.broadreachpr.com/results/case-studies Learn what PR can do for you: Apple plans 'precedent-setting' investment in Maine timberland Apple Inc. is partnering with The Conservation Fund to preserve more than 32,400 acres of timberland in Aroostook County. The Arlington, Va.-based nonprofi t recently announced that Apple's invest- ment will help preserve Reed Forest as a working forest, ensuring that it will continue to produce a steady supply of sustainably harvested timber for paper and pulp mills. The forest, also known as Reed Plantation, is located in southern Aroostook County on the Mattawamkeag River, near the border of Penobscot and Washington counties. Apple's level of investment in the conservation project is not being disclosed, but Larry Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund, said in a prepared statement that Apple's initiative is "precedent-setting" and that it is "clearly leading by example." "By all accounts, the loss of America's working forests is one of our nation's greatest environmental challenges," Selzer said. Apple's initiative with The Conservation Fund also includes the preservation of more than 3,600 acres of timberland in Brunswick County, N.C. Apple's investment will allow The Conservation Fund to purchase both forests, place conservation easements on them and then sell both forests to buyers that will adhere to sustainable forestry practices, Robin Murphy, a spokesman for the nonprofi t, told Mainebiz. Proceeds from sales will be invested in other forest preservation, he added. While Apple may not source its paper from either forest in the future, Murphy said, the technology company's investment will help neutralize the impact of its paper consumption by increasing the country's supply of sustainable wood fi ber. He said the production capacity of the two forests is equivalent to about half of the wood fi ber used last year in packaging for Apple's products, including the iPhone, iPad and over devices. Tom Boutureira, The Conservation Fund's Maine director, said the initiative also will help protect wildlife habitat and traditional outdoor recreation in the area, along with preserving clean water that fl ows from the Mattawamkeag River into the Penobscot River. Out of the country's 420 million acres of working forest, 45 million acres "are at risk of being lost to development," according to The Conservation Fund. "The status quo for America's working forests is simply not acceptable," Selzer said. "Today's announcement is both a turning point and blueprint for forest conservation." — D Y L A N M A R T I N P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F T H E C O N S E R VAT I O N F U N D Apple is working with The Conservation Fund to preserve Reed Forest in Aroostook County. REED FOREST

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